The Cumberland County Commission tonight selected Joseph L. Sherrill to fill the vacant 6^th district seat.

During comments by the general public prior to the selection, Crab Orchard Mayor Emmett Sherrill spoke to the commission giving his support to Joseph L. Sherrill. The Crab Orchard mayor was the only one in the public that addressed the commission during the time for public comments.

Four of the five candidates for the seat attended the meeting and were given a chance to speak to the commission on why they wanted to serve.

The first was Charles Wilson, Jr. who told the commission he can bring 27 years of active military service in the Navy and a lot of experience to the seat. Wilson said he is retired and has the time to be a successful commissioner.

Next was Clifford Segar. He told the county commission he located to extreme eastern Cumberland County in 2005 and is retired. Segar is a former maintenance computer engineer who delivered communications equipment to some of the hardest hit hurricane ravaged areas of the southeast including after Hurricane Katrina. Segar also delivered equipment to ground zero in New York City right after 9/11. Segar said he can bring a wealth of experience to the county as their new commissioner if selected.

The third candidate to speak was Joseph L. Sherrill. He is a life-long resident of Cumberland County and a business owner. “I want to be part of a team to be the best that Cumberland County can be,” said Sherrill.

The fourth candidate was Cody Christopher who was born in Rockwood but relocated to Cumberland County. He attended Crab Orchard Elementary School, Cumberland County High School and played college basketball for Roane State and Bryan College. He presently works for the Cumberland County Circuit Court. “Even if I do not get the position tonight, my prayers are always with the county commission to make the best decisions possible for the people of the county,” said Christopher.

The fifth candidate, Gary Goldberg, was not in attendance.

County Mayor Allen Foster then opened up the floor to the commission for nominations to fill the 6^th district seat.

Wendell Wilson, who also serves the 6^th district, nominated Joseph L. Sherrill.

Ninth district county commissioner Carl MacLeod nominated Clifford Segar.

No other nominations were made effectively reducing the candidate pool from five to two.

The vote took place and Sherrill got nearly all of the commissioners votes 14 to 3. Commissioners Baldwin, MacLeod and Patterson voted for Segar.

County Mayor Allen Foster then gave Sherrill the oath of office. Sherrill then took his seat as the new 6^th district county commissioner. He will serve until August 2020 when the election will take place.

Next, the commissioners unanimously agreed assigned Commissioner Sherrill to the vacant committees held by the previous commissioner.  Then, Carl MacLeod was unanimously appointed to the Budget Committee as John Patterson resigned from the committee a few weeks ago. The final action before the resolutions were addressed was approving a bond for Cumberland County Director of Schools Janet C. Graham.  This is a standard approval that many county officials must have. The bond was approved 18-0.

RESOLUTIONS

The following resolutions were approved (resolution sponsor in parenthesis):

RESOLUTION 08-2019-1 – A resolution to transfer the department overseeing Judicial Commissioners (Foster).  This resolution moves oversight of the Judicial Commissioners from the Judicial Commissioners Supervision Committee to the General Sessions Judge. The resolution was approved unanimously via voice vote.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-2 – A resolution amending resolution 1205-6 changing the current Hearing Board to a Standards Board with investigative power and empowering the Environmental Committee to serve as Hearing Board (Hyder). The resolution was approved via voice vote unanimously.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-3 – A resolution to appoint Amanda Houston and Vicki Baucum to a three-year term from August 16, 2019 to August 15, 2021 as members to the Audit Committee (Foster). The resolution was approved 18-0.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-4 – A resolution to reappoint Russell Smith and appoint Linda Clark to the Cumberland County Regional Planning commission for a term of four (4) years to expire August 31, 2023 (Foster). The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-5 – A resolution to reappoint Valerie Cox and appoint Christy Dolinich for three-year terms to expire August 31, 2022 as members to Crossville-Cumberland County Convention and Visitors Bureau (Foster). The resolution was approved 18-0.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-6 – A resolution to appoint Joyce Rorabaugh for a four-year term from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2023 as Cumberland County Archivist (Lowe). The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-7 – A resolution to accept offers from Steve A. Martin to purchase property owned by Cumberland County (Threet). The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended an offer of $339.90 for the purchase of one parcel. This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed due to property taxes not being paid for several years. The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-8 – A resolution to accept offers from William Salazar and Marie L. Perez to purchase property owned by Cumberland County (Threet). The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended an offer of $824.60 for the purchase of two parcels. This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed due to property taxes not being paid for several years. The resolution was approved 18-0.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-9 – A resolution to accept offers from Steven Anthony Martin to purchase property owned by Cumberland County (J. Davis). The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended an offer of $306.70 for the purchase of one parcel.  This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed due to property taxes not being paid for several years. The resolution was approved unanimously.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-10 – A resolution to accept offers from Steven Anthony Martin to purchase property owned by Cumberland County (J. Davis). The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended an offer of $305.50 for the purchase of one parcel. This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed due to property taxes not being paid for several years. The resolution was approved 18-0.

RESOLUTION 08-2019-11 – A resolution to accept offers from Colleen Land to purchase property owned by Cumberland County (Hyder). The Delinquent Tax Committee recommended an offer of $271.00 for the purchase of one parcel. This will return the property to the tax rolls after it had been removed due to property taxes not being paid for several years. The resolution was approved unanimously.

County Finance Report

County Finance Director Nathan Brock went over the year-end unaudited finance numbers with the county commission. Sales tax for the board of education was $9,686,000 which is approximately $319,000 above projections. Property tax came in at 102.6 percent of budget. Hotel/Motel taxes were below both projections and last year’s totals at approximately $834,000. That is $51,000 below this year’s budget. Ambulance collections came in above projections at $4,043,000. Prisoner boarding came in $33,500 short of the amended budget amount of $743,000 but above the original budgeted figure of $620,000.